Unemployment: $2,000 Return to Work Bonus now offered in Arizona
Individuals working part-time will receive a $1,000 bonus
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Governor Doug Ducey recently announced the state would stop paying the $300 in unemployment benefits and offer a $2,000 return-to-work bonus to get Arizonans back to work.
For those returning to work part-time, they will receive $1,000, according to Gov. Ducey's team.
Patrick Goetz from the Arizona@Work Yuma division says he's never seen this many jobs up for grabs.
“There's plenty of jobs and there's probably more jobs posted right now and any other time that I have ever seen and I've been here 20 years and I've never seen the amount of jobs that are available. And on the other hand, I've never seen it to the point where we've been desperate for jobseekers. Employers are offering bonuses,” Goetz explained.
Gov. Ducey's decision comes after many employers reported having trouble with the federal government's unemployment payments, allowing individuals to stay home and not work rather than finding a job.
“In Arizona, we’re going to use federal money to encourage people to work…instead of paying people not to work,” Governor Ducey said.
With the new program, Arizona will stop taking the federal government pandemic unemployment benefits starting Saturday, July 10.
“With ample supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine on hand and millions of Arizonans vaccinated, people feel safer and are finally returning to life in Arizona as we knew and loved it before,” said Governor Ducey. “People are back in the office, restaurants are at full capacity and tourists are flocking to our state.”
In Yuma County, jobs are available especially in the hospitality industry but that's not all.
“Hospitality is hurting really bad, you know, especially our restaurant industry or hospitality or, you know to hotels, but we have several manufacturers, here in town, and just out of two of those, I can tell you right now they're short over 100 employees,” Goetz detailed the many jobs available in town.
Arizona@Work's goal is to assist you in getting started for the next chapter of your life.
Nidia Herrera is the executive director for the Yuma division.
“We can offer the services that will assist them with finding that employment so that they can benefit from those either $2,000 or the $1,000,” she explained.
Gov. Ducey adds, "Although more people are ready to work today in Arizona than before the pandemic, many businesses are struggling to fill vital positions,” the Governor added. “We cannot let unemployment benefits be a barrier to getting people back to work.”
For more information on the program, click here.
